James Dondero and the Dallas Zoo Hippos

A donation made by Highland Capital Management played a vital role in ensuring that the construction in the Simmons Hippo Outpost became a reality at the Dallas Zoo. James Dondero, one of the founders of Highland Capital Management, obtained help from Linda Owen a longtime Dallas civic leader to help manage the charitable gifts department of Highland Capital Management in partnership with the Dallas Foundation. Linda Owen serves as manager of the charitable gifts department. Follow James on Linkedin.

James Dondero hired Linda Owen to manage the charitable gifts department of Highland Capital Management after he felt the need to expand philanthropic efforts in the Dallas community. Linda Owen has a record as a long time civic leader and can form partnerships between the business sector and the public. Linda Owen believes in Highland Capital Management’s vision and belief in using philanthropy to enact change in the Dallas community.

With the construction of the Simmons Hippo Outpost the Dallas Zoo was able to obtain and house two hippos named Adhama and Boipelo. Adhama is a six-year-old male hippo that loves to play in the water and demonstrates a more adventuresome nature. Boipelo is a ten-year-old female hippo with pretty skin and a shy nature. Both of the hippos are adjusting to their new habitat and the glass pool which allow zoo visitors to watch the hippos swim.

The two hippos are getting along well and seem to be bonding. The Dallas Zoo hopes that the hippos will eventually deliver a baby hippo. Adhama and Boipelo were matched as part of the Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zookeepers are training the hippos for demonstrations to the public and are actively monitoring their health and wellness as they try to help the hippos develop husbandry behavior. Read more about James at Crunchbase.